Author: openjargon

Buying shares from the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) for a decade requires looking well beyond what might happen over the next few months.

I want businesses with large markets, strong competitive positions, and plenty of room to become bigger over time.

With that in mind, here are three ASX 200 shares I’d be happy to buy and hold for the next decade.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The first share is Life360. Its family safety platform now has 102.4 million monthly active users globally, including 54 million in the United States.

I think those numbers highlight both how far Life360 has come and how much opportunity remains. The US is currently its largest and most developed market, but I see no reason why its International business won’t one day be significantly larger than its US business.

This gives Life360 a long runway to grow its user base over the next decade.

There are also plenty of opportunities to generate more revenue from existing users through paid memberships, advertising, and additional services covering families, pets, vehicles, and other connected devices.

If Life360 can keep growing its audience and converting more free users into paying customers, I think earnings could grow strongly for many years.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Another ASX 200 share I’d consider holding for a decade is Megaport.

It started as a way for businesses to connect quickly to cloud providers and data centres. But its opportunity has become considerably larger following its move into compute infrastructure.

Megaport has been winning major artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure contracts through Latitude.sh. Most recently, it secured three contracts worth approximately $979 million, taking the total value of AI infrastructure contracts announced since April to around $2.3 billion. That is a significant change in scale.

Megaport now has exposure to networking, compute, storage, and the growing demand for GPU infrastructure needed to run artificial intelligence workloads.

There is plenty of execution risk as it invests heavily to fulfil these contracts. But if management delivers, I think Megaport could look like a very different business a decade from now.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

A final ASX 200 share I’d buy and hold is TechnologyOne.

This enterprise software company has built an impressive recurring revenue business serving governments, universities, councils, and other large organisations.

Importantly, management still sees substantial growth ahead. TechnologyOne last reported annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $598 million. It is now targeting ARR of more than $1 billion by FY 2030 and expects its profit before tax margin to eventually exceed 35%.

Driving this growth is its SaaS+ strategy, growing suite of AI-enabled products, and international expansion.

In light of this, I think TechnologyOne has the ingredients to keep compounding earnings well into the next decade.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares I’d buy and hold for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• A leading fund just bought these top ASX 200 shares
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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360, Megaport, and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360 and Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

I think one of the best things about the ASX share market is that we can buy pieces of businesses that help grow our wealth over time, so we can eventually retire.

Compounding is a very powerful tool that can help grow a dollar into significantly more over the years.

We don’t need to run these businesses ourselves. That’s up to management and all other staff at those companies.

Whether that’s some of the world’s biggest companies or some of the up-and-coming ASX shares, we can invest in ideas that can grow over time.

By regularly investing, spending less than we earn, and possibly using superannuation, an Aussie can build a very rewarding level of annual passive income.

Let’s get into what it would take if someone wants to reach $85,000 of investment income each year by 50.

Compounding and building wealth

Compounding helps accelerate our net worth because we don’t need to add as much money to reach a financial goal.

For example, if someone invested $500 per month and it returned 10% per year, it would be worth $1.09 million after 31 years. About $905,000 of that total would come from returns, and only $186,000 would come from the actual deposits.

But I’m sure readers wanting to retire at 50 will want to reach their goal faster than 31 years.

So, let’s assume share market investments continue to return an average of around 10% and run through a few scenarios.

First, let’s double the monthly investment to $1,000 and see what happens then.

By investing $1,000 per month, a 25-year-old investor could reach $1.18 million after 25 years.

If someone aged 30 invested $2,000 per month, they could reach a portfolio value of $1.375 million.

Maybe someone is aged 35 and they have just 15 years to reach 50. Let’s imagine that person saves really hard and invests $3,500 per month. That could reach $1.33 million in that time.

Everyone has a different financial position, so I don’t know how much each household can save, but the above shows how people can regularly put money toward their net worth and eventually retire early.  

Unlocking $85,000 a year of annual passive income

Getting $85,000 each year would be a very good amount to retire on.

However, it would require investors from the above examples to target solid grossed-up dividend yields which typically include franking credits.

For example, accessing $85,000 on a $1.18 million portfolio means finding a 7.2% dividend yield. The sorts of businesses I’d target for that yield include Future Generation Australia Ltd (ASX: FGX), Future Generation Global Ltd (ASX: FGG), Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI) and WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG).

The other end of my target was generating $85,000 from a $1.375 million portfolio. This works out to be a dividend yield of 6.2%. With that target in mind, I’d look at stocks like MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF), Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), and
PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund Ltd (ASX: PGF).

By mixing a portfolio of good local shares and international exposure, retirees can build a pleasing stream of passive income, such as $85,000 by age 50.

The post How much do I need to retire on $85,000 a year at 50? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• MFF Capital vs PM Capital Global Opportunities: Which LIC is the better investment today?
• $3,000 buys 1,463 shares in an impressively reliable ASX dividend stock

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Future Generation Australia, Future Generation Global, Mff Capital Investments, Rural Funds Group, and Wcm Global Growth. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Mff Capital Investments and Rural Funds Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Westpac vs National Australia Bank shares: Which big bank could be the better buy?

If you’re weighing up Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) against National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), you’re not alone. These two stalwarts sit among the ‘big four’ and anchor many Aussie portfolios and super funds. Their sheer size and history make both popular for long-term income seekers, but subtle differences in dividends, valuation and recent price momentum could tip the scales if you’re looking for a potential edge.

The case for Westpac

Westpac is Australia’s oldest bank, dating all the way back to 1817. Today, it holds one of the largest footprints of any financial institution in the country with a range of consumer, business and wealth banking brands including St.George, Bank of Melbourne, BankSA and BT. Westpac provides everything from mortgages and deposits to institutional banking.

Three fundamentals stand out for me:

• Dividend yield: 4.49% with 100% franking, making it attractive for income-focused investors, especially those seeking tax-effective payouts.
• P/E ratio: 16.91, putting Westpac at a lower valuation than NAB on this simple metric.
• Earnings per share: $2.029, marginally higher than NAB’s reported figure.

Dividend stability and a long track record add to Westpac’s appeal. According to its most recent public description, Westpac remains one of the top listed companies on the ASX, backed by diversified operations across both retail and institutional markets.

The case for National Australia Bank

NAB is another giant, tracing its present structure to 1982 and serving millions across Australia and New Zealand, with international outposts in the UK, the US and Asia. It delivers a similar suite – home loans, business banking, wealth management – with a significant focus on both domestic and overseas growth.

Here are its key drawcards:

• Dividend per share: $1.70, higher than Westpac’s $1.54 (as per the latest data), and also fully franked.
• Market cap: $119.71 billion, fractionally above Westpac and suggesting slightly more investor confidence in the current climate.
• Dividend yield: 4.42% – only a whisker below Westpac’s but with a higher absolute dividend payment per share.

NAB’s broader international exposure and a reputation for steady payouts, as reinforced by its company profile, cement its spot at the top end of the ASX.

Valuation comparison

Let’s put the most relevant metrics head-to-head:

	Westpac	NAB
Market Cap	$117.80b	$119.71b
P/E Ratio	16.91	19.25
Dividend Yield	4.49%	4.42%
Dividend per Share	$1.54	$1.70
EPS	$2.029	$2.000
Franking	100%	100%

Westpac currently trades at a lower P/E multiple than NAB, meaning you’re paying a little less per dollar of reported earnings. The dividend yields are close (Westpac higher by 0.07 points), but NAB’s dividend per share is larger. EPS is almost neck and neck. Note: NAB’s higher dividend payout versus similar earnings per share could indicate either a higher payout ratio or greater profit stability – but payout ratios themselves weren’t in the data provided for this comparison.

Recent share price momentum

Comparing recent share price performance up to I’ll use 5 October 2026:

• Westpac: Closed at $34.44 as of 5 October 2026, finishing the day 0.35% higher.
• NAB: Closed at $38.40 on the same date, registering a 0.26% intraday dip.
• Year to date: Westpac is down -9.1% YTD, while NAB has dropped -7.0% over the same period.

Both banks have had a soft year, but NAB’s share price has held up a touch better so far in 2026.

Which is the better buy?

Both Westpac and NAB offer strong brand power, broad services and full franking—a trio of traits most Aussie income investors prize. If what you want is a slightly higher yield and lower valuation, I think Westpac edges ahead, especially if you believe the market is being too harsh with its recent price drop. Its P/E ratio undercuts NAB by a useful margin, and with a fully franked yield, that’s a handy combo for value-conscious portfolios.

On the other hand, NAB’s larger dividend payment and slightly lower share price volatility this year are also hard to ignore. But paying a higher P/E for almost the same underlying earnings and yield doesn’t sway me. For my money, I’d lean toward Westpac for its blend of yield and comparative valuation at current prices—while fully acknowledging that the margin is slim, not overwhelming. Ultimately, both are formidable blue-chip foundations, but in a straight shootout based on the latest numbers, my pick would be Westpac.

The post Westpac vs NAB shares: Which big bank is the better buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How much could the big 4 banks’ share prices fall?
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• Fortescue vs National Australia Bank: Which ASX blue chip is the better buy this month?
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• Are ASX 200 bank stocks a buy in October?

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

A $100,000 ASX share portfolio is a significant milestone.

But how much passive income could it actually generate?

Let’s run the numbers and find out.

What could $100,000 generate?

A reasonable target for an income-focused ASX portfolio could be a dividend yield of around 4% to 5%.

At a 4% yield, a $100,000 portfolio would generate approximately $4,000 in passive income each year.

Increase the yield to 5% and that rises to $5,000 annually. That is before tax and does not include the potential benefit of franking credits.

I wouldn’t simply search the ASX for the shares offering the biggest dividend yields, though. Very high yields can sometimes be a warning sign that investors expect the dividend to be reduced.

Instead, I would look for businesses with sustainable cash flows and a reasonable prospect of maintaining or growing their distributions over time.

Infrastructure stocks could play a role. APA Group (ASX: APA), for example, owns energy infrastructure that generates relatively predictable cash flows, while Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) collects toll revenue from major road networks.

Property could provide another source of income. HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN) owns assets exposed largely to everyday spending and currently offers a higher distribution yield than many traditional blue-chip shares.

These could be mixed with established dividend payers such as Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), rather than relying too heavily on any individual company or sector.

Another way to use the $100,000

There is also an alternative for investors who don’t need the passive income today.

Rather than immediately building a portfolio around dividends, I think there is a strong case for focusing on total returns and allowing the $100,000 to compound for longer.

For example, if $100,000 grew at an average rate of 10% a year with all income reinvested, it could become approximately $260,000 after 10 years.

At a 5% yield, that larger balance could then generate around $13,000 in annual passive income.

After 20 years, the same $100,000 could grow to approximately $670,000 at that return.

A 5% yield on that balance would generate around $33,500 a year.

Of course, a 10% annual return isn’t guaranteed.

But I think it shows why investors with time on their side may want to concentrate on growing the portfolio first and worry about maximising passive income later.

The post How much passive income can I make from a $100,000 ASX share portfolio? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended HomeCo Daily Needs REIT and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX shares that experts rate very positively could be exciting opportunities.

When some businesses have received numerous buy ratings from experts, they are worth a closer look.

Businesses with rapidly growing revenue could be particularly compelling.

Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360)

Life360 is best known as a tech business that provides an app for families to keep track of each other. It operates in numerous countries, including the US, the UK, ANZ and Canada.

It’s currently rated as a buy by 14 analysts, according to Commsec. It’s one of the most heavily backed ASX shares right now.

The company is growing strongly – in the second quarter of 2026, it revealed significant growth.

Revenue grew by 38% to $159 million, with monthly active users (MAU) rising 16% to 102.4 million and paying global circles growing by 27% to 3.2 million. US paying circles grew 25% to 2.3 million and international paying circles soared 34% to 0.4 million.

The ASX share has looked to monetise its non-paying circles through advertising. In the three months to June 2026, advertising revenue grew 315% to $22 million.

Life360’s profitability metrics are also expanding rapidly. Adjusted operating profit (EBITDA) grew 53% to $20.3 million and positive operating cash flow soared 79% to $23.8 million.

Given that Life360’s share price is down more than 60% over the past year (at the time of writing), it could be a very underrated business at this valuation amid worries about AI.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Pro Medicus is another ASX share that is strongly backed by analysts.

It is currently rated as a buy by nine analysts, according to Commsec.

Pro Medicus describes itself as a leading healthcare informatics company. It says it provides a full range of medical imaging software and services to hospitals, imaging centres and healthcare groups worldwide.

FY26 was another strong year for the company – revenue grew 22.9% to $261.7 million, underlying operating profit (EBIT) rose 24.4% to $196.1 million, and underlying net profit increased 24.1% to $144.7 million.

However, given how much of the ASX share’s revenue now comes from the US, foreign currency plays a sizeable role in the financials. If exchange rates hadn’t changed, underlying revenue would have grown 28.4% to $273.5 million, underlying EBIT would have risen 30.6% to $206 million and underlying NPAT would have risen 32.5% to $154.5 million.

Future earnings growth looks very positive, with the company signing 10 new contracts worth a minimum of A$407 million and renewing six (out of six) contracts worth A$141 million at higher transaction rates.

Perhaps most impressively of all, the EBIT margin improved by 90 basis points to 74.9% in FY26.

It’s not cheap, but the Pro Medicus share price has dropped around 50% in the past year, making the ASX share much more attractive.

The post 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) continued its positive run with a solid gain. The benchmark index rose 0.55% to 8,735.7 points

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to edge lower

The Australian share market is expected to edge lower on Wednesday despite a strong session on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 1 point lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 0.5%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.6%, and the Nasdaq pushed 0.45% higher.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a decent session on Wednesday after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.4% to US$89.80 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.65% to US$100.96 a barrel. Traders were bidding oil higher in response to supply risks.

Buy Deterra shares

The team at Morgans thinks Deterra Royalties Ltd (ASX: DRR) shares could be good value. The broker has retained its buy rating on the mining royalties company’s shares with a trimmed price target of $4.75. It said: “Deterra has announced the acquisition of a 1.75% NSR royalty on ~84% of Ivanhoe Electric’s Santa Cruz copper project for US$74.15m cash. As part of the deal reduced to 1.68% NSR for first 6 years of production, and 1.57% thereafter, with a current 24-year mine life. >We value the Santa Cruz royalty at risked A$110m, or A$0.21/share, and expect it to add A$17-21mpa to EBITDA by FY30F (~7% earnings accretive). A formidable inflation hedge with upside leverage to metal prices, we maintain a BUY rating with a A$4.75 Target Price (was A$4.85).”

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Wednesday after the gold price pushed higher. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.8% to US$4,191.5 an ounce. This was driven by a weaker US dollar and softening Treasury yields.

Dicker Data shares on watch

Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) shares will be on watch on Wednesday if they return from their trading halt. The computer hardware and software distributor requested a trading halt as it prepared to announce a binding agreement to acquire 100% of Sektor Group for around A$111.8 million. Executive Chair and Managing Director, Fiona Brown, said: “Sektor expands our reach into attractive adjacent categories including point-of-sale and enterprise mobility as well as further strengthening our physical security and cybersecurity offering. Importantly, Sektor also provides Dicker Data with an established operational footprint in Thailand and Malaysia, accelerating our regional expansion strategy.”

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Dicker Data. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Healius vs Australian Clinical Labs shares

If you’re considering a slice of Australia’s diagnostic healthcare sector, you might be torn between Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) and Australian Clinical Labs Ltd (ASX: ACL) shares. Both companies are big names in pathology, with nationwide reach and established reputations. But their fundamentals, dividends, and recent share price momentum tell very different stories. Let’s dive into what really sets these two healthcare stocks apart.

The case for Healius

Healius is one of Australia’s largest pathology service providers, operating under well-known brands like Laverty, Dorevitch, and QML Pathology. Healius ran around 2,000 collection sites and close to 100 labs across the country. In May 2025, Healius sold its Lumus Imaging business and now focuses on pathology and its bioanalytical laboratory arm, Agilex Biolabs.

Looking at current fundamentals, three points really stand out:

• The share price has been hammered this year, with a -52.5% year-to-date return.
• Healius’s P/E ratio is 55.56, with an earnings per share of -0.563. (Note: Healius’s reported P/E ratio may be based on a different earnings measure than the EPS figure shown, which is why they may appear inconsistent.)
• Dividend yield is currently 0.00%. Despite a long history of fully franked payouts, the last special dividend was paid in May 2025, and before that, ordinary dividends dried up after 2022.

So while Healius is a large, established player with an extensive network, it’s struggling for profitability and income at the moment.

The case for Australian Clinical Labs

Australian Clinical Labs is another leading pathology player, with a strong footprint across nearly all states and territories (excluding Tasmania). The company operates more than 75 laboratories and 1,300 collection centres, handling over 12 million episodes a year. ACL is also a significant provider to both private and public hospitals, and increasingly active in specialised screenings and commercial testing.

Here are a few of the most notable fundamentals right now:

• Year-to-date return is a healthy 8.4%—a far cry from Healius’s collapse.
• The P/E ratio is 23.11, backed by positive earnings per share of 0.141.
• Dividend yield is 4.56%, with 100% franking. ACL has delivered regular, fully franked dividends; the latest was 9.25 cents per share in September 2026.

Overall, ACL is profitable, growing, and paying out a solid stream of income.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how the two companies stack up on key numbers:

Metric	Healius	Australian Clinical Labs
Market Cap	$305.00 million	$514.79 million
P/E Ratio	55.56 (Note: P/E may not be based on the EPS shown, which is negative)	23.11
Earnings per share (EPS)	-0.563	0.141
Dividend Yield	0.00%	4.56%
Franking	100%	100%
YTD Return	-52.5%	8.4%

While both companies offer fully franked dividends, only ACL is currently paying and yielding above 4%. Healius has lost significant ground—both in share price and earnings.

Recent share price momentum

Comparing recent share price performance up to 1 October 2026:

• Healius closed at $0.42 on 1 October 2026, down 2.3% on the day and showing steep declines so far in 2026. Year to date, Healius is down 52.5%.
• Australian Clinical Labs closed at $2.76 on 1 October 2026, falling 3.2% that day, but overall in positive territory for 2026 with an 8.4% gain year to date.

Both shares dipped on the last trading day, but their trajectories are worlds apart this year. Healius has been in steep decline; ACL has outperformed and delivered positive momentum.

Which is the better buy?

If I had to choose between Healius and Australian Clinical Labs today, my pick would be clear: Australian Clinical Labs. The company is profitable, offers a solid fully franked dividend yield, and has delivered meaningful share price growth this year. Meanwhile, Healius is battling negative earnings, has halted regular dividends, and has seen its market cap and share price tumble by more than half in 2026. ACL’s lower P/E ratio (compared to Healius) also suggests investors aren’t paying as much for each dollar of earnings, at least within the context of these two healthcare stocks. While both serve a vital role in Australian pathology and may benefit from long-term healthcare trends, only ACL currently pairs business quality with real income and positive momentum. That’s where I’d be leaning with my investment dollars today.

The post Healius vs Australian Clinical Labs: Which ASX pathology share wins? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 6 ASX shares upgraded by experts amid a weak market 
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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

I think long-term investing is the best way to go when it comes to ASX shares.

Holding a good investment for a long time gives compounding time to work its magic, and it also means that investors aren’t unnecessarily interrupting the growth by activating a capital gains tax (CGT) event and paying some of the value to the ATO.

In my view, the two ideas below are great ones to own for the long term.  

Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR)

When a business is compounding its financials at a strong pace, it’s very likely to deliver pleasing shareholder returns over time. Siteminder is growing at double-digits each year, and I think that’s set to continue for the foreseeable future.

Siteminder provides software to many thousands of hotels around the world. The Siteminder offering is the world’s leading hotel commerce platform, while Little Hotelier is an all-in-one hotel management software that helps smaller operators.

During FY26, the company added 5,900 properties to its customer base, taking the total count to 56,000. In recent times, it has been targeting larger hotels, which come with scale benefits.

The company’s top-line growth was solid during FY26, with revenue up 18.6% to $266.1 million and annual recurring revenue (ARR) up 14.9% to $313.7 million. The ARR figure suggests another solid year of revenue growth is ahead.

It’s experiencing momentum across its new offerings within the ‘smart platform’, which I expect will play a bigger part in the coming years.

Dynamic revenue plus now supports more than 50,000 rooms (more than double the HY26 level) – hoteliers are benefiting from new AI-powered capabilities and predictive demand analytics.

Channels plus grew from 7,000 hotels in HY26 to almost 10,000 at the year-end. The smart distribution program continued to contribute to partner outcomes. These are helping drive a higher average revenue per user (ARPU), which rose 9.3% to $429 in FY26.

The ASX share’s profit margins continue to improve. The adjusted group gross profit margin increased 84 basis points (0.84%) to 67.2%. It also reported 96.5% growth of adjusted operating profit (EBITDA) to $28.1 million, and adjusted free cash flow increased 123% to $10.5 million.

According to the projection on CommSec, the Siteminder share price is valued at just 17 times FY29’s estimated earnings.

WCM Quality Global Growth Fund (ASX: WCMQ)

The other investment I want to highlight is this exchange-traded fund (ETF), which is operated by the WCM investment team, based in Laguna Beach, California. It’s a very different environment from the actual Wall Street in New York, helping WCM invest differently.

WCM’s investment process is based on the belief that corporate culture is the biggest influence on a company’s ability to grow its competitive advantages (or economic moat).

It aims to have a portfolio of between 20 and 40 stocks with access to quality global companies primarily in the high-growth consumer, technology, and healthcare sectors. I’m calling this an ASX share because it’s about investing in shares, and we can buy it on the ASX.

The investment team aren’t looking for a quick return, but long-term compounders that are delivering a rising return on invested capital (ROIC), which is a good sign of a strengthening bottom line, helping shareholder returns.

This team has shown that the investment strategy has worked for the long term. In the 10 years to August 2026, the investment strategy has returned an average of 16.2%. Of course, past performance is not a guarantee of future returns.

I’d be very happy to own this fund for the next decade (and beyond), while receiving a minimum distribution yield of 5%.

The post 2 top ASX shares to buy and hold for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in SiteMinder and Wcm Quality Global Growth Fund. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended SiteMinder. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended SiteMinder. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Superannuation is a very important tool to save for retirement, whether that’s for a 60-year-old or a 20-year-old.

Superannuation offers several benefits, such as a lower tax rate during the accumulation phase. In retirement, the tax rate can be as low as 0% (depending on the superannuation balance).

Additionally, superannuation’s structure encourages long-term investing, which I think is the best way to build wealth.

Everyone wants to have a good retirement, and I think reaching the current average superannuation of a 60-year-old is a good target to aim at.

Average superannuation balance for 60-year-olds

Before talking about what Australians can do to grow their superannuation balance, let’s look at what the actual target is.

According to APRA data, the average super balance for 55 to 59-year-olds is $243,300, and for 60 to 64-year-olds it is $270,800. So, let’s say an investor wants to reach approximately $250,000.

A quarter of a million dollars is a significant amount of money to boost income in retirement. It could add $10,000 of income or more, depending on the dividend yield, rental yield, or interest rate of the assets inside superannuation.

When we look at the average superannuation balances for people aged between 25 and 29, the average balance is $28,000. That shows there’s a lot of growth to happen over the next 30 to 40 years.

So, how can aspiring Aussies get to a $250,000 superannuation balance by 60?

Superannuation guarantee

The first and perhaps most important element of saving towards retirement is the mandatory contributions that businesses make for their staff.

Businesses are currently required to pay their employees 12% of their wage into super. The required amount used to be less than 10% of wages, but now it’s 12%.

Let’s imagine someone earns $50,000 per year, which is close to the minimum wage on an annualised basis. That means that person would receive $6,000 of superannuation contributions over 12 months (minus the superannuation tax of 15% on contributions).

Excluding inflation effects, that would be net contributions of $51,000 per decade. Three decades of contributions would be $153,000. Of course, over time, people may get promoted or upskill, leading to a sizeable increase in their earnings and superannuation contributions.

However, plenty of readers aren’t earning just the minimum wage, so their annual superannuation contribution would be higher and help build towards $250,000 faster. For some higher earners, the superannuation guarantee contributions may be all they need to reach a large figure, perhaps beyond what the average superannuation balance of a 60-year-old is.

Aussie investors can do a few things to grow their superannuation balance faster than the bare minimum.  

Invest in growth assets

Superannuation allows Australians to invest in a variety of assets. Over the long term, some asset classes have a better track record than others.

For me, as someone who is decades away from accessing my superannuation, I think it’s better to invest significantly (entirely, in my case) in ‘growth’ assets in superannuation. Shares are a lot more appealing to me than cash.

Cash and bond returns are significantly hampered by inflation, so the ‘real’ return is even less attractive.

I’m choosing to invest in international shares and great ASX shares in my superannuation. Ones that I believe will help grow my retirement balance by around 10% (or more) per year on average over the long term.

I mentioned before that someone earning a full-time minimum wage may contribute a net figure of $51,000 per decade to their superannuation. If that $51,000 grows by 8% per year, $51,000 doubles to more than $100,000 in approximately nine years. After another nine years, that original $51,000 could be worth around $200,000. And so on.

In conclusion, investing in growth assets and leaving them alone for decades can do some heavy lifting for growing a superannuation balance towards $250,000, or significantly more.

Make additional contributions

For people who have enough income to cover their essential spending, they can make additional salary sacrifice contributions out of their wage called reportable employer superannuation contributions (RESC), up to a certain dollar amount each year. This is a tax-efficient way to do it. It will likely need to be mentioned on the tax return.

Aussies can also make annual after-tax contributions to their superannuation, up to a certain (large) dollar figure, before being subject to extra tax. According to the Australian Taxation Office, the non-concessional contributions cap is $130,000 for FY27, up from $120,000 in FY26.

There are also a number of other, smaller, things that Australians can do, such as spouse super contributions to a low-earning spouse to boost their balance – this comes with a tax offset.

It’d be a good idea to ask a financial advisor what the current limits are and what the benefits are for each of these ideas.

Foolish takeaway

When you combine many years of superannuation contributions and investing, I think many Australians can reach the average superannuation balance of a 60-year-old. It just takes time, compounding, and choosing the right investments.

The post How almost any Australian can reach the average superannuation balance of a 60-year-old appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX shares closed on Tuesday afternoon off the back of a rally in ASX technology shares and a lower oil price.

Here are four ASX shares that brokers expect to outperform broader indexes over the next 12 months.

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

After dipping to a multi-year low in early June, ResMed shares have rebounded by around 24% and are trading at $31.95 per share at the time of writing. They’re still around 12% lower year to date, however.

The ASX healthcare shares started climbing higher in August, and they’ve been pretty stable over the past couple of weeks. 

It looks like previous macroeconomic pressures and regulatory uncertainty have eased slightly, and investors are more optimistic about shares in the sector.

The company’s latest fourth-quarter earnings update shows the business has continued to grow at a healthy pace, and its margins have continued expanding. The company has also generated strong free cash flow. 

TradingView data shows the majority (18 out of 31) of brokers have a buy/strong buy rating on ResMed shares. The average $37.57 target price implies the shares could increase up to 18% over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

SiteMinder Ltd (ASX: SDR)

SiteMinder shares were hit by a disappointing FY26 results announcement in mid-August. The company posted a 22% increase in revenue and a 96.5% increase in EBITDA. Its net loss also improved to $11.3 million, down from a net loss of $24.5 million in FY25. 

The company also said it expects its adjusted EBITDA margin to keep expanding in FY27 and reach the mid-20% range by FY30.

Investors weren’t thrilled and the shares crashed around 22% by the end of the month. They’ve then continued falling ever since. The ASX shares are now down around 56% for the year to date, to $2.70 each.

But it looks like the sell-off was way overdone, and at the current share price, they’re trading well below fair value.

The experts agree. TradingView data shows that the majority (13 out of 16) have a buy/strong buy rating on the ASX shares. They all agree on some element of upside ahead. The average $5.28 target price implies an upside of around 96%, at the time of writing.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

Liontown shares enjoyed a good rally through the first quarter of 2026, but then they started tumbling around the middle of the year. At the time of writing, the shares are trading at 83 cents each, which is around 49% lower than the start of the year.

Liontown is practically a pure-play lithium miner, and its assets are overwhelmingly lithium-focused. This means it is sensitive to and heavily dependent on lithium price trajectories. This year’s crash and share price decline are almost entirely due to lithium price movements, which have followed a similar pattern.

But over the long term, the ASX shares are well placed to benefit from strong lithium pricing and expanding global EV demand. The miner’s development pipeline and exposure to future supply chains are also attractive.

TradingView data shows the majority (7 out of 14) hold a buy/strong buy rating on the shares. Another four rate the ASX shares as a hold, and three have a sell rating.

The average $1.28 target price implies an upside of around 53%, at the time of writing.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

The data centre operator’s shares have tumbled lower over the past month, to $10.44 a piece at the time of writing. That’s 15% lower for the year to date.

It looks like the company’s latest FY26 results disappointed investors, prompting many to sell their shares. Since the announcement in late August, the ASX shares are down around 25%.

But as the company has physical centres, cooling, power, security services, and project support, and as data usage explodes, demand for secure, high-quality infrastructure is likely to boom too. 

The company is also investing heavily in business expansion, including plans to develop new facilities and expand existing sites.

Analysts are bullish that we’ll see some strong share price growth going forward.

TradingView data shows the majority (14 out of 15) have a buy/strong buy rating on the shares. The average $20.31 target price implies an upside of around 96% at the time of writing.

The post 4 ASX shares tipped by brokers to return 18% to 96% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ResMed and SiteMinder. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed and SiteMinder. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.